Monday, October 31, 2016

Natives and Drinking Water Under Attack in North Dakota

Standing Rock, North Dakota, U.S. - A large force of militarized police, mainly employing clubs and less deadly weapons such sound cannons, chemical irritants, etc. attacked an indigenous camp in the path of a corporate pipeline. Police on ATVs targeted natives on horseback with rubber bullets and less lethal explosives leading to the death of one horse. Police who had to be brought in from a number of neighboring states, were backed up by National Guard troops.

Last Thursday an armed employee of the Dakota Access, the company behind the planned $3.7 billion, pipeline, was caught attempting infiltrate the water protector's camp. Over the weekend a mysterious brush fire was set in the vicinity of the camp. It's believed that the fire was set by employees of the company.

More than 200 water defenders have been arrested over the last few days and sent to jails throughout the state. The struggle to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) and defend the water that could easily be contaminated by a leaking pipeline, continues and calls have gone out for supporters to join the ongoing camps and to plan and execute solidarity actions in other locations.

In August, and again just a few weeks ago, a series of suspicious fires left a number of bulldozers, backhoes, and other heavy equipment used to construct the pipeline inoperable. The heavy machines were located along the pipeline route in two Iowa counties. Individuals opposed to the construction of the DAPL are believed to be responsible. Police have estimated the costs of the fires at approximately $3 million, not including the cost of delays to the company.